Media articles are ARCHIVED monthly.  April articles will be archived shortly. 

CFT in the News: 4/30/09

Prop. 1A has teacher groups divided
Oakland Tribune - ‎17 hours ago‎
Other groups unhappy with the CTA's endorsement include the California Federation of Teachers, the California Faculty Association and the California School ...

U. of California Instructors Off Tenure Track Mark Today as 'New ...
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) - ‎28 minutes ago‎
The University Council-American Federation of Teachers, the union for faculty members and librarians in the University of California system, promoted the ...

May Day Events Shine Spolight on Workers' Rights
City on a Hill Press - ‎7 hours ago‎
The California Faculty Association and the Student California Teachers Association are sponsoring the Reel Works Film Festival for the second year in a row. ...
The director of "Golden Lands, Working Hands," Fred Glass, is a labor history instructor at San Francisco City College as well as a communications director for the California Federation of Teachers

Education news:4/30/09

PPIC Survey finds California school funding dilemma -- Those polled say they want education spared from state budget cuts, but an increasing number of people are less willing to pay more taxes to make up for the shortfall. Mitchell Landsberg in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/30/09

PPIC Report: Californians Support Changes For Schools, Split on How to Achieve Change
California Progress Report

GOP Senate leader predicts Republican ideas will rise post-Sac Bee Caitol Alert

Pam Brady: Prop. 1B is vital to education, PTA says - Budget cuts to education threaten an entire generation of children. The California State PTA supports Proposition 1B for one simple reason: It restores vital funding to schools at a time when California ranks almost dead last in the nation in supporting education.

Prop. 1B tries to untangle kink in school funding policy Ventura County Star

De coding California's May Special Election New America Foundation - about the New America Foundation

Aid won't fund meals
Federal dollars for Burbank and Glendale districts will fund upgrades for equipment - Glendale News Press

Vallejo school board chops $10.5 million from budget
By Tony Burchyns/Times-Herald staff writer Posted: 04/30/2009
The Vallejo school board Wednesday approved $10.5 million in budget cuts to address a deficit that could grow even wider depending on the outcome of the May 19 special election.

Class sizes grow with budget cuts
By TONI SCOTT - Staff Writer Posted: 04/29/2009
For third-grade teacher Jennifer Reynolds, its not about the extra backpacks, increased number of desks or even the growing amount of grading she will have to do -- its about the education of students.

Local School Leaders Say Federal Education Aid Not Enough KPBS - San Diego

UC regents to seek 9.3% fee hike -- Student leaders express mixed reaction to the proposed $662 increase, which UC President Mark Yudof says will be largely offset by federal tax credits and increases in financial aid. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times TERENCE CHEA AP -- 4/30/09

Charter school staff face dilemma on benefits -- Workers at three campuses must decide whether to give up lifetime coverage, change schools or retire. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/30/09

Editorial: UC's case for executive pay
Published: Thursday, Apr. 30, 2009 - To hear public officials talk, you would hardly know that the nation faces a major economic crisis, that California's state revenues are in trouble or that there's any need to reject business as usual.

Pension funds are asked about money managers -- California's treasurer asked the state's two big public pension funds Wednesday to investigate any investments made involving so-called placement agents. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/30/09

State News: 4/30/09

Field Poll: Angry voters are 'tuned out' in run-up to special election -- Judging by the results of this week's Field polls, California voters: (a) Are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore. (b) Don't give a rat's patootie about the May 19 special election. (c) Are highly skeptical that the half-dozen propositions on the aforementioned election's ballot are going to do much to buoy the state's sinking finances. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/30/09
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1821867.html?mi_rss=Top%20Stories

Sac Bee Capitol Alert AM Alert: What to cut?
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/021926.html

CFT in the News: 4/29/09

LA school board backs away from endorsing ballot measures
Los Angeles Times - ‎2 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers supports only 1B, while the California Teachers Assn. supports all three, as do the Los Angeles Area Chamber of ...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/la-school-board-backs-offs-from-endorsing-ballot-measures.html

May Day Meditation: Who Benefits From the Tuition Gold Rush?
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) - ‎28 minutes ago‎
Major support provided by Bob Samuels, president of the California Federation of Teachers, representing nontenurable faculty at five UC campuses: Berkeley, ...
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=1335

'34 General Strike laid base for counterculture
San Francisco Chronicle - ‎14 hours ago‎
... have happened without its root: the 1934 San Francisco General Strike. Fred Glass is the communications director for the California Federation of Teachers.

Education news:  4/29/09

Nearly 1,400 LAUSD teachers take early retirement package -- Nearly 1,400 Los Angeles Unified teachers, counselors and administrators have signed up for early retirement - a better-than-expected response that could save the district hundreds of jobs as it braces for massive layoffs. Connie Llanos in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 4/29/09
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_12249168?source=rss

LAUSD backs off plan to ease firing of teachers -- The board fails to pass the proposal, instead creating a task force to study the issue. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/29/09

Educators' agonizing wait
Unions for Stockton Unified workers lobby judge to have layoffs reversed – Stockton Record 4/29/09

High school district opens first negotiations since hard 2006 bargaining season
Teachers say they're aware of financial constraints, expect calmer talks
FALLBROOK ---- Educators in the Fallbrook Union High School District said Tuesday that this year's negotiations between the district and the teachers association promise to be unique in several ways, but should not get as ugly as previous bargaining sessions.

Some colleges checking out applicants' social networking posts -- High school students, beware! College admissions and financial aid officers in California and elsewhere may be peeking over your digital shoulder at the personal information you post on your Facebook or MySpace page. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/29/09

In One Pocket and Out the Other for Preschool Funding -- A promised deluge of federal stimulus funds for preschools, a major priority for President Barack Obama, will start flowing to centers in San Diego just as state funding is being clipped. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 4/29/09

Proposition 1A:

Field Poll shows fading support for Prop. 1A as May 19 special ...
Press-Enterprise - ‎3 hours ago‎
By JIM MILLER SACRAMENTO - A new survey shows that Prop. 1A is trailing only three weeks before the May 19 s pecial election and seems likely to drag four ...
http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_S_prop1a29.ceef5f.html

State News: 4/29/09

Field Poll: California voters oppose five of six May 19 ballot measures -- Voters strongly oppose five special election measures being sold as a budget-reform elixir for California's burgeoning $40 billion deficit. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/29/09

Walters: Complex ballot measures still falling short -- A sturdy axiom of ballot- measure politics is that voters who are confused or uncertain about a proposition's effects will vote against it. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/29/09

Herdt: The next big fiscal threat -- It is unsettling to hear the treasurer of the state of California say this: “There will likely be an unprecedented budget crisis this summer, with a serious possibility that schools and public universities won’t open this fall.” Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 4/29/09

Education news: 4/28/09

Students show improvement in reading, math
The Associated Press - ‎31 minutes ago‎
George Miller of California, called it "deeply troubling" that high school students did not show improvement. "We must redouble our efforts to ensure that ...

SUSD to get rid of Success For All
Stockton Record - ‎11 hours ago‎
California education officials simply said: Stop using it. Amato said he had hoped to seek a waiver from the state, but when he learned recently that ...

School gives merit pay an 'A'
Sacramento Bee - ‎Apr 27, 2009‎
He said big labor unions and the California Teachers Association are generally opposed to merit pay, but smaller districts have their own opinion. ...

Schools struggle with method to reduce teaching staffs
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎Apr 27, 2009‎
In California, teachers go through a two-year tryout, during which they can be dismissed without cause. Once they gain tenure, though, it's rare for ...

After debate, no progress in LA teacher layoff plans Los Angeles Times

Teachers on trial? ... The Chino Valley Unified School District teacher joined thousands of others in California this month in these peculiar hearings to determine who should be laid off due to budget cuts. ...Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Prop. 1A:

Prop 1A, pro and con debate
Napa Valley Register - ‎Apr 28, 2009‎
By DAN ROSS Proposition 1A on the May 19 ballot proposes, among other things, extending the state's sales tax increase for an additional year to help ...
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/04/28/opinion/poll/doc49ecb6f80f711447232860.txt

No vote for Prop. 1A Bakersfield Californian

County taxpayers group urge no votes Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Tue Apr 28, 2009 — Proposition 1A would extend several tax increases. Supporters say the state needs that money to stay solvent. But opponents argue the measure actually encourages lawmakers to raise taxes again.

State News: 4/28/09 None today

CFT in the News: April 25-27, 2009

Democrats refuse to endorse budget package
John Wildermuth, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009
"Rank-and-file Democrats around the state decided this was a bad deal," said Kenneth Burt, political director for the California Federation of Teachers. "Republicans have been pushing for state spending caps

Budget fixes cut huge rift
Harm seen if measures approved, but 'more trauma' for state if not
By Adam Ashton
Labor groups, such as the California Federation of Teachers and the Service Employee International Union, have rallied to block Proposition 1A because they oppose its spending caps, forming an unlikely alliance with Republicans.

Late News 4/24/09:

School budgets hinge on measures
‘We're not hearing good stuff,' district supt. says of poll results showing low voter support.
By Zain Shauk
DOWNTOWN - More budget cuts may be on the horizon for local schools if voters don't support a series of ballot measures, a possibility that has forced educators to think about contingency plans.
lawmakers will come together to draft a better plan, said Fred Glass, spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers.

UC-AFT News:

Meet the New Majority: Non-Tenured Faculty
BY ANDREW TONKOVICH
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 26 | APR 27 2009
UC Irvine generally does a great job of welcoming students. Lately, however, as I've followed those springtime campus tours around, I've noticed one thing that is wrong. Cheerful and otherwise well-prepared docents offer a problematic picture to potential Anteaters and their parents. Last week, a jolly tour guide stood under a tree and assured everybody that Academic Senate faculty members teach all classes at UCI.
As members of the American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT), the union that represents lecturers and librarians, we faculty members hope to draw attention to the fact that most people teaching in higher education do not have tenure and have quite limited academic freedom and job security.

Ed Roundup: Stimulus money headed to schools
The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Apr 24 2009 06:12 PM
California school districts are applying for their share of $3.1 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds provided by the feds. American Federation of Teachers

Education News: April 25-27, 2009

Senate Majority Leader Warns: "Education will take the single largest hit its ever taken in its history" California Progress Report interviews Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez

Editorial: Provocative study doesn't justify abolishing high ...
San Jose Mercury News - ‎Apr 26, 2009‎
Researchers affiliated with Stanford's School of Education concluded that the exit exam not only doesn't help improve student performance but also prevents ...
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_12230514

EDITORIAL
Analyzing the high school exit exam
A study that found gender and ethnic disparities in its results should not be used to do away with California's high school exit exam.
April 24, 2009

Opinion: Lawmakers, CEOs see progress amid tough choices in California
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group gathered four of the Legislature's top leaders and two leading CEOs for a panel discussion at its annual CEO Business Climate Summit. They shared their thoughts on the state budget, the state's economy and the budget-related propositions on the May 19 ballot.
San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA

Librarians Raise Awareness of Year-Long Struggle for Higher Wages
BY KRISTIE KANG
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 26 | APR 27 2009
With salary negotiations reaching an impasse, the University of California and UC Irvine librarians are currently in a state of mediation. Despite the failing economy, the librarians seek higher wages to meet those of their California State University and California Community College librarian contemporaries.
http://www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=librarians_raise_awareness_of187

State News: April 25-27, 2009

On the Special Election:

Schwarzenegger, allies raise big money for ballot measures, but will it matter? -- When it comes to campaign dollars, the May 19 special election is shaping up as a lopsided affair. Led by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the campaign for ballot measures designed to shore up the state budget is outraising opponents by at least 6 to 1 - and as much as 13 to 1, depending on how you count. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/27/09

Skelton: Governor keeps Prop. 1A simple -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is concerned the public may be confused about Proposition 1A, the spending control measure he's backing on the May 19 ballot. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/27/09

Hiltzik: California budget fixes on May 19 ballot are mostly shams and frauds -- Of the six propositions billed as solutions to the fiscal crisis, two would make things worse, one would be irrelevant to the budget, two would be mostly irrelevant and the last is wishful thinking. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/27/09

Yes on 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F
The good in state propositions outweighs the bad. The Times recommends a yes vote, but not on 1B. April 26, 2009

Most of the measures on the May 19 special election ballot would help California begin to climb out of its current budget mess while laying a foundation for later, more thoughtful and more far-reaching reform. The Times recommends a yes vote on Propositions 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F.

Burton takes over as chair of state Democratic Party -- Former state Sen. John Burton took over as the near chair of the state Democratic Party today, replacing another long-time legislator, Art Torres, who's leaving the job after a record 13 years. John Wildermuth Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/27/09

California Federation of Teachers in the news: 4/24/09

Poway teachers' union agrees to pay cut

By Linda Lou (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
April 23, 2009POWAY - The union representing teachers in the Poway Unified School District has agreed to a 2.7 percent pay cut in exchange for five fewer work days for each of the next two school years.

It means the Poway Federation of Teachers is the only North County teachers union that has approved a salary reduction to help save jobs, and the second in the county to do so. The other is the tiny Alpine Union School District, which went against its parent union, the California Teachers Association, when it agreed to a furlough dea

Santa Cruz Sentinal,
For Love of Labor
The Reel Work Film Festival highlights workers who refuse to accept the short end of the stick--downturn or not.
By Jessica Lussenhop
...Many screenings feature a post-presentation talk by filmmakers or the subjects themselves. Andrew Freund will be joined after Workers' Republic by a couple of the plant workers featured in the documentary, who will discuss what it was like to take on their company and the role of labor in these dark economic days. "[The Great Depression] gets talked about a lot as we move into this new economic crisis. What doesn't get talked about is that people at that time were not just waiting for a savior with their hand out. Instead they were organizing," says Freund. "It seems like now, more than ever, grassroots campaigns for social justice are needed again, even though we have a Democratic majority. We can't get complacent." Other events include talks by Santa Cruzans who were at the "Battle in Seattle," SEIU director Nick Steinmeier, and California Federation of Teachers communications director Fred Glass.

Special Election/CFT:

Democrats meet amid uncertainty over taxes, budget
By JULIET WILLIAMS Associated Press Writer
Updated: 04/23/2009 07:25:34 PM PDT
SACRAMENTO-California Democrats should be riding high after a surge in voter registration and the emergence of a strong cast set to audition for next year's gubernatorial race.
Many Democrats feel their leaders are trying to force a bad deal on them, said Kenneth Burt, political director for the California Federation of Teachers, one of a handful of smaller unions campaigning against the ballot measures.

May 19 Budget Initiatives Explained
Lynne Bronstein, Santa Mirror Staff Writer

Many people are either unaware of or are confused about the statewide special election coming up on May 19, which involves six budget-oriented initiatives, placed before the voters of California because they change laws previously passed by the voters... Brodkin noted that 1B is largely aimed at receiving support from teachers. The California Teachers Association (CTA) and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) support 1B. While it would decrease strain on the budget for the moment, state costs would increase beginning in 2011.
Proposition 1C would reform the 1984 State Lottery initiative by stopping lottery profits from going to education (the state would substitute borrowed money from the General Fund for the lottery education funds and pay back that debt using future lottery profits).
http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=10031

PDLA Urges a No Vote on the Initiatives
By Linda Sutton in the California Progress Report

At the April meeting of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, we considered the initiatives on the upcoming May 19 ballot...
Here's your reading set for the day. The state pays for a Legislative Analyst to go over ALL of these initiatives and explain them in relatively clear language. On page 5: "If Proposition 1A passes, the Governor would be given new authority to reduce certain types of spending during a fiscal year without additional legislative approval." La De Da. Just what he wanted and was denied by the massive outpouring of unions that crushed Prop 76 three years ago. What happened? This time around we see a splitting of the unions. I'll always recall CTA endorsing Republican Bruce McPherson over Debra Bowen, so they'll NEVER have any credibility in my book. CTA-yes, CFT-no. Getting a late start on this, SEIU has joined the NO side.

Schwarzenegger, allies raise big money for ballot measures, but will it matter? -- When it comes to campaign dollars, the May 19 special election is shaping up as a lopsided affair... The California Faculty Association has contributed $177000, and the California Federation of Teachers, a rival to the CTA, has given $116000. ... Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/24/09

Education news: 4/24/09

'Teacher of the year' also tops layoff list --It's an honor, Hohensee said, one that would have been a bit sweeter if he knew he'd be returning next year to his English classes at Cypress High School. Instead, he's almost certain to be laid off. MICHAEL MELLO in the Orange County Register -- 4/24/09

Administrators union asks LAUSD to reconsider cuts -- In a letter to the Los Angeles Unified School District this week, an administrators union has asked that the Board of Education reconsider its vote to approve nearly $600 million in cuts. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 4/24/09

BUSD Sends Out Pink Slips to Classified Employees Berkeley Daily Planet

UUSD: No schools will close next school year
Ukiah Daily Journal - ‎2 hours ago‎
Proposition 1B would provide $9.3 billion for California schools if voters agree to extend recent tax increases for up to two more years but it actually ...

Conejo School District starts slashing adminstrative positions
Thousand Oaks Acorn - ‎Apr 22, 2009‎
Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Saturday that California school districts and universities can immediately begin applying for $3.1 billion in American ...

Margaret Gaston: State must help school leaders develop
Sacramento Bee - ‎10 hours ago‎
California's schools will be greatly challenged by the current budget crisis, but at the same time there is little doubt of the need to transform schools in ...

California 2009 Classified School Employees of the Year Selections ...
Imperial Valley News - ‎Apr 23, 2009‎
"California's classified school employees provide important academic support and are essential to securing the safety, health, and well-being of our state's ...

High school testing helps university freshman avoid remedial classes, study says -- A 5-year-old program to test high school juniors to determine if they're ready for college is reducing the number of Sacramento State freshmen who need to take remedial math and English. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/24/09

State News: 4/23-24

April 23, 2009 - entire story follows

SurveyUSA poll shows ballot measures lagging

A new SurveyUSA poll shows California voters strongly opposed to most of the six measures on the May 19 special election ballot.

The poll, conducted for KABC-TV Los Angeles, KPIX-TV San Francisco, KGTV-TV San Diego, and KFSN-TV Fresno, said voters are against Proposition 1A, 42 percent to 29 percent. The measure would place long-term spending restrictions on state government and extend already approved taxes up to two years.

The poll said voters, by a 2-1 margin, oppose Proposition 1C -- a measure to borrow $5 billion from lottery earnings. Voters are almost evenly split on Proposition 1D, which would shift funds for early childhood development to pay for other programs, but they are against Proposition 1E, which would shift funds for mental health programs, 41 percent to 32 percent.
Sac Bee Capitol Altert

Over 2,000 March and Protest at State Capitol Against Cuts To Disabled, Mental Health, Seniors - Marty Omoto in the California Progress Report
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/04/over_2000_march.html

CFT in the News:  4/23/09

Some Labor Groups Oppose Ballot Measures
KCRA.com - 6 hr, 29 mins ago
that are backed by other big unions. Service Employees International Union, the California Federation of Teachers and the California Faculty Association have raised

Two budget measures equal one case of confusion
Los Angeles Times - ‎13 hours ago‎
But his counterpart with the 100,000-member California Federation of Teachers strongly disagrees. "We see 1A imposing a spending cap that assures that California schools remain among the most poorly funded in the country," says CFT political director Kenneth Burt.
And he adds, echoing what other public employee unions have complained about: "CTA went behind closed doors and cut a secret deal with the governor without talking to anybody."

Outcome for Prop. 1A, 1B intertwined in May vote
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎Apr 22, 2009‎
The state's two large teachers unions, the California Teachers Association and the 140000-member California Federation of Teachers, both support Proposition ...

3-way union race shaping up in college district
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎7 hours ago‎
The American Federation of Teachers Guild, Local 1931, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, which represents faculty in the San Diego Community College District, ...

Education News: 4/23/09

Education Report: The lowdown on graduation rates
Tri Valley Herald - ‎13 hours ago‎
The report recommends that California "explore new ways to improve education and hold our high schools accountable for the academic achievement of their ...

Betting on the state lottery
Los Angeles Times - ‎1 hour ago‎
Some of my colleagues think of the proposition, which would authorize the state to borrow $5 billion against the California lottery's future profits, ...

LAUSD wants to make firing teachers easier -- Embarking on a monumental task that some say is doomed to fail, Los Angeles Unified school officials are taking aim at state laws that make it virtually impossible to fire teachers. George B. Sanchez in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 4/23/09

LAUSD targets teacher shields
Los Angeles Daily News - 1 hr, 41 mins ago
and student achievement. If approved, the measures will kick off a drawn-out fight with California's powerful teachers unions, who hotly oppose any changes to existing

Bill Requires Increased Accountability of the Migrant Education Program – Gloria Romero in the California Progress Report

Special Election:

Skelton: Two budget measures equal one case of confusion -- The backers of Prop. 1A forgot a key rule: Keep it simple for the voters. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/23/09

CFT In the News: 4/22/09

Proposition 1B would provide $9.3 billion for California schools -- It would make up for earlier cutbacks in state funding, but only if voters also approve Proposition 1A, which would extend recent tax increases for up to two additional years... One other wrinkle that may confuse voters is that some organizations, such as the California Federation of Teachers and the California School Boards Assn., ... Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/22/09
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prop1b22-2009apr22,0,5736011.story?track=rss

Challenges facing SF teachers
Socialist Worker Online - ‎14 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers and a host of other unions have come out squarely opposed to both propositions. Those of us in EDU believe UESF should ...
http://socialistworker.org/2009/04/22/challenges-facing-sf-teachers

SEIU donates $500000 to defeat Prop. 1A; six-part package could ...
Sacramento Bee - ‎13 hours ago‎
But SEIU, the California Federation of Teachers and the California Faculty Association formed a committee that has raised $1 million. ...
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1799296.html

Education news: 4/22/09

Schools in 3 states eye stimulus money
CNN - 2 hr, 46 mins ago
into our communities and into our economy,' California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. Teachers in California have been protesting massive education layoffs as the
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/22/education.stimulus/index.html?eref=rss_us

TEMECULA: Temecula school layoffs may just be four
North County Times - 2 hr, 53 mins ago
Valley Educators Association, which represents teachers, will conclude three days of voting Wednesday, the same day the Temecula chapter of the California School
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/04/21/news/californian/temecula/z5ba3bb539b80a3db8825759f00818fdc.txt

High school exit exam hinders female and non-white students, study says -- The mandatory test is keeping at least 22,500 California students a year from graduating who would otherwise fulfill all their requirements, researchers say. State education officials defend the exam. Mitchell Landsberg in the Los Angeles Times Melody Gutierrez in the Sacramento Bee Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/22/09

College Board steps into the immigration debate -- Trustees of the association that administers the SAT vote to support the Dream Act, which would offer some undocumented youths a path to citizenship through college or the military. Ben Meyerson in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/22/09

Walters: Stanford study of exit exam shows fallacy -- California celebrates diversity and individualism as virtues, but oddly, when it comes to public education, we try to stuff 6 million students from countless ethnic, cultural, linguistic and economic backgrounds into rigidly constructed curricula and expect them to adhere uniformly to arbitrary "standards." Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/22/09

Community college enrollment growth outpaces resources, shutting out students -- Gili Weiner, 19, so badly wanted a seat in algebra class that she set her alarm for 4:45 a.m., so she'd be ready when De Anza College's online class registration opened at 5 a.m. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/22/09

Sacramento-area schools use race-based assemblies to push standardized tests -- The bleachers in the Laguna Creek High School gym were filled earlier this week with students gazing at an outline of Africa on a big screen. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/22/09

State News: 4/22/09

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 21, 2009
AM Alert: SEIU drops 500k to No on 1A; Arnold tweets

The state council of the Service Employees International Union deposited $500,000 into the campaign to defeat Proposition 1A on Monday.

That's the spending constraint/tax extension measure on the May 19 ballot.

The donation by SEIU is the largest to date in the No on 1A campaign, coming on the heels of low six-figure contributions from the California Faculty Association, the California Federation of Teachers and SEIU (again) last week.

So far the union-led No on 1A forces have raised just under $900,000.

Meanwhile, the National Education Association is weighing in on behalf of Proposition 1B, which would require repayment to schools of the current budget cuts.

Of course, passage of 1B is tied to the fate of 1A ...

The long and the short of it: The campaign's getting expensive out there.

Education news: 4/21/09

Chart: OC schools' share of federal stimulus aid
OCRegister - ‎11 hours ago‎
But the other seven categories have not yet been broken down by school district, according to the California Department of Education. ...

Covina faces school closures as stimulus money becomes available
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - ‎11 hours ago‎
The stimulus money is intended to help schools prevent layoffs while preserving education programs and academic reform efforts. In California - the first ...

21 teaching positions eliminated
Monterey County Herald - ‎1 hour ago‎
The Budget Advisory Committee, an assemblage of school administrators, teachers and at-large citizens in the district, was charged with identifying and ...

Whittier schools move quickly to get their share of stimulus funds Whittier Daily News

Help Is On The Way For Cash Strapped School Districts KHSL, Chico, Redding

Local districts line up for federal stimulus dollars Pasadena Star-News

Oakland school district discovers new, $15 million shortfall -- After months of digging, a private auditing firm has concluded that the cash-strapped, state-indebted Oakland school district has even less money than anyone thought - nearly $15 million less. Katy Murphy in the Oakland Tribune -- 4/21/09

School board OKs plan for cuts
Modesto Bee - ‎7 hours ago‎
... California's resulting cuts to education spending. The agreement will go to Modesto Teachers Association members for voting Wednesday through Friday. ...

Education, money and a big puzzle
Santa Maria Times - ‎7 hours ago‎
A small army of public school teachers is on notice that they may have no jobs next year. District administrators await word on funding availability, ...

How Prop 1A is Being Packaged - By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California, in the California Progress Report

State News: 4/21/09

As We See It: The Sentinel recommends yes on propositions 1A-1F Santa Cruz Sentinel

Governor candidate Garamendi touts 'education renaissance' in forum at San Jose State -- In remarks tailor-made for his audience of San Jose State University students on Monday, Lt. Governor John Garamendi - the only announced Democratic candidate for governor - said he envisioned an optimistic future for California where education would be a top priority. Sandra Gonzales in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/21/09

Walters: Two strategies to change California government -- California's never-ending budget crisis has, if nothing else, solidified broader acceptance of what until recently had seemed to be a radical notion - that the state's governance is deeply flawed and needs fundamental overhaul. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/21/09

California Federation of Teachers in the news: 4/18-20

Opponents of Proposition 1A Form Coalition Committee
California Chronicle - ‎4 hours ago‎"Prop 1A won´t be able to do what its supporters claim," added Marty Hittleman, President of the California Federation of Teachers. ...
Beyond Chron - ‎9 hours ago‎

Last week, however, a coalition of SEIU, the California Federation of Teachers, senior groups and the California Faculty Association launched a "No on 1A" ...

Odd alliance: Governor calls on former foes for help, votes...“This constitutional amendment, supported by the governor and legislators, was developed with no public scrutiny and won't stop the budget chaos,” said Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers. San Diego Union Tribune

UC System Restarts Salary Talks With Librarians
Daily Californian - ‎12 hours ago‎
The meeting was the second mediated session since an impasse was declared in February, after salary negotiations between the American Federation of Teachers ...

Education news: 4/18-20

Education stimulus funds to aid Cal State, UC systems -- More than $500 million of the $3.1 billion released for California schools will go to the state colleges and universities, which are facing deep budget cutbacks. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/20/09

California first to get stimulus money for schools The Associated Press

Community Colleges Popular in Unsure Economy
News10.net - ‎1 hour ago‎
California community colleges face a number of issues that are growing simultaneously. Like Anderson, there are many high school graduates who are opting ...

Number of school districts with shaky finances likely to grow
Press-Enterprise - ‎Apr 17, 2009‎
And that list of districts is likely to grow as county education offices review the latest reports submitted in March, said an official with a state agency ...

More Sac Unified schools face closure
Sacramento Bee - ‎Apr 18, 2009‎
By Diana Lambert Sacramento City Unified's decision to shutter four schools is just the beginning, said interim Superintendent Susan Miller. ...

School board set to vote on job cuts
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎Apr 19, 2009‎
By Linda Lou (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer POWAY - The Poway Unified School District board will vote tomorrow on whether to eliminate 127 positions ...

Does Money Matter Most? Finding a Silver Lining for Schools in ...
Huffington Post - ‎3 hours ago‎
Class-size reduction provides a clear example: As California's failed experiment shows, the effective resource is not smaller classes but a compound ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norton-grubb/does-money-matter-most-fi_b_187256.html

State News: 4/18-20

Battles likely at state Dems' convention -- The hottest issue on the agenda is likely to be the May 19 special election, where delegates are going to be asked to endorse a package of budget-reform measures. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/09
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/20/BAGF174GT3.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

California Federation of Teachers in the news: 4/16-17

One teachers union prefers courts over ballot
The California Teachers Association has pumped $5 million so far into a campaign to pass Propositions 1A and 1B, with the carrot of $9.3 billion in total additional education revenues starting in 2011-12 under 1B.

Teachers' Group to Use Courts to Get Prop. 98 Money - California Progress Report
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/04/teachers_group.html

"Read it yourself" Before Voting on Prop. 1A
April 16, 2009 @ 12:55 PM
California seniors, teachers, and college faculty today warned voters that despite misleading claims by Proposition 1A supporters, the confusing and deeply flawed proposition will do nothing to stop California's budget chaos this year or next and will actually make our problems worse. They urged every voter to "Read it yourself" before voting on the confusing and deeply flawed proposition.

Cuts: Close to the Classroom?
Morgan Hill Times - ‎15 hours ago‎
These cuts also worried Federation of Teachers Union Vice President Theresa Sage. "We're cutting (special education resource) teachers, aides, ...

Teachers union to vote on pay rollback, cutting 5 workdays over 2 ...
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎Apr 16, 2009‎
By Linda Lou (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer POWAY - The Poway Federation of Teachers is considering a 2.7 percent salary rollback and working five ...

Education news: 4/17/09

Budget Cuts Hurt Diversity in California's Public Schools, Impact Vulnerable Students
All Reports by Robin Swanson
April 16, 2009 @ 12:39 PM
As the aftershocks of the $11.6 billion in budget cuts, 30,000 teacher and administrator pink slips and nearly 10,000 school employee layoffs reverberate through California's public schools, the casualties are becoming more apparent every day.

Vista school board lays off 38 employees
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎11 hours ago‎
In other news Thursday night, administrators announced that the Mission Vista High Schools project is expected to be delayed again, at least through the end ...

More cuts for school districts likely
Stockton Record - ‎10 hours ago‎
"We think that there is a strong possibility that schools are going to be faced with additional cuts," said Jim Thomas, who oversees the business services ...

School board OKs $30.3 million in budget cuts
Elk Grove Citizen - ‎37 minutes ago‎
"We are trying to build the future of California without investing in the future of education," he said. The school district's 2009-10 budget is scheduled ...

California faces shortage of college graduates forr workforce, study finds -- A report says that in 2025, 35% of the state's working-age adults will hold a four-year degree, while a college education will be required for at least 41% of job-holders. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times Sarah Rohrs in the San Jose Mercury Tanya Schevitz CalBuzz -- 4/17/09

PPIC says Cal lagging in college graduation
California is failing to produce the college-educated workers it will need to staff the technologically sophisticated economy of the future, a new study by the Public Policy Institute of California concludes.

College Students Better Prepared With California's Early ...
Science Daily (press release) - ‎3 hours ago‎
"This is perhaps the best part of the story: Students and high schools appear to be using the information from the Early Assessment Program to act in the ...

Second Grade Testing Too Costly and Stressful?
KESQ - ‎17 hours ago‎
The scores are combined to show how well each school is doing. California schools are graded stricter than any others. "Our students are facing the toughest ...

State News: 4/17/09

Politicians' doomsday threats suggest state budget propositions in ... San Jose Mercury News

CFT In the news: 4/16/09

Teachers union to vote on pay rollback, cutting 5 workdays over 2 ...
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎9 hours ago‎
By Linda Lou (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer POWAY - The Poway Federation of Teachers is considering a 2.7 percent salary rollback and working five ...

Prop. 1A tied to Prop. 1B to fund schools -- Proposition 1B will let voters decide on May 19 whether $9.3 billion cut from school funding this year and last should be repaid to schools and community colleges. Marty Hittelman, president of the 120000-member California Federation of Teachers, called Prop. 1A a "horrible cap on spending." Yet if either measure fails ... Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/16/09

Education news: 4/16/09

Layoffs would hit Villaraigosa's schools especially hard -- Campuses the mayor controls have long suffered from high turnover, and the cuts would boost instability. 'I came to do what I consider missionary work,' says a Watts principal who could get bumped. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/16/09

School Board Begins Budget Blood Bath The Santa Barbara Independent

School Board Cuts $4 Million from Budget
Livermore Independent - ‎1 hour ago‎
However, it is not business as usual in the education field in the State of California." Miller added that although many of the cuts are described in terms

Moreno Valley board shifts school funds
Press-Enterprise - ‎12 hours ago‎
Using those funds to help balance the district's budget would mean cutting California High School Exit Exam preparation programs, English tutoring for ...

San Jacinto Unified eliminates jobs, makes other cuts
Press-Enterprise - ‎12 hours ago‎
The cuts were due to anticipated cuts in state education funding, as well as a slight decline in the district's enrollment, which also lowers funding. ...

Colleges cut back without hoped-for funds
New Times SLO - ‎14 hours ago‎
BY KYLIE MENDONCA California's budget crisis has meant huge cuts for public schools. Cal Poly is facing an almost $3 million drop in its operating budget in ...
http://www.newtimesslo.com/news/2394/colleges-cut-back-without-hopedfor-funds/

State Special Election: Prop 1B
KIONrightnow.com - ‎6 hours ago‎
The budget crisis cut $12 billion from the state education system. These payments would begin in 2011 to 2012 and would replace other payments that the ...

Skelton: There's nothing sneaky about Proposition 1A -- A crazy myth has been spreading about the core measure on the May 19 state ballot, Proposition 1A. The myth is that Prop. 1A is a sneaky trick to raise taxes. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/16/09

UC pension fund lost third of its value in 2008 -- The University of California's huge and once very healthy retirement fund lost a third of its worth in 2008, shedding about $16 billion in value primarily because investments plummeted due to the recession. Jim Doyle in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/16/09

State News: 4/16/09 none today

CFT In the News: 4/15/09

Gambling firm gives $750000 toward lottery measure
Sacramento Bee - ‎21 hours ago‎
... Faculty Association gave $77000 toward the new anti-Proposition 1A committee it established with SEIU and the California Federation of Teachers. ...

Unions oppose Prop. 1A, but are slow to flash the cash
San Francisco Chronicle - ‎17 hours ago‎
While the California Federation of Teachers put $100000 into the anti-Prop. 1A campaign this afternoon, the other opponents have been slow to reach for ...

Schwarzenegger, Brown support Prop 1A
abc7news.com - ‎13 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers charges it is flawed. "It's very complicated, it isn't going to smooth out the budget propositions we've had in the ... Opponents agree the proposition needs improvement. The California Federation of Teachers charges it is flawed.

"It's very complicated, it isn't going to smooth out the budget propositions we've had in the past," Berkeley Federation of Teachers member Cathy Campbell said...

Sac Bee Capitol Alert:

April 15, 2009--Golden State Warriors join ballot fight

Count the Golden State Warriors among the latest supporters of budget-related ballot propositions on the May 19 ballot. The NBA team donated $25,000 to Budget Reform Now, the campaign committee supporting the six measures, according to a filing posted Tuesday on the Secretary of State's Web site.
Other major donors included Stockton developer Alex G. Spanos, who gave $100,000, and utility company Edison International, which also gave $100,000. Private contractors also gave to the campaign. DeSilva Gates Construction, A. Teichert & Son, and the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association each contributed $25,000.
On the opposing side, the California Federation of Teachers gave $100,000 to the fledgling No on Proposition 1A committee.
_______

Education news: 4/15/09

Education Standards Likely to See Toughening --- President Obama and his team have alternated praise for the goals of President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind law with criticism of its weaknesses, all the while keeping their own plans for the law a bit of a mystery. SAM DILLON in the New York Times -- 4/15/09

The Trouble with Touting the $10 to $1 Benefit-to-Cost Ratio for Pre-K
New America Foundation - ‎6 minutes ago‎
That statistic has been making headlines lately, thanks in part to appearances in major speeches by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne ...

School Board Ponders Severe Budget Cuts
The Daily Sound - ‎8 hours ago‎
District officials say more fiscal problems are lurking if a slew of initiatives fail on the May California ballot, and if the governor's May Revise budget ...

Editorial: Time for action at Sac Unified
Sacramento Bee - ‎9 hours ago‎
And three public school districts carry most of the burden for public education. Two-thirds of the 238000 public school students in Sacramento County are ...

Visalia Unified School District board reinstates 44 jobs
Visalia Times-Delta - ‎5 hours ago‎
Costa said the district will meet with representatives from the California School Employees Association to iron out details of how layoffs for the 16 people ...

LAUSD board OKs 6,500-plus layoffs -- A divided Los Angeles Board of Education narrowly approved a plan Tuesday to lay off more than 6,500 temporary teachers, counselors and other district staff for the 2009-10 school year to help bridge a nearly $600 million budget gap. George Sanchez and Connie Llanos in the Los Angeles Daily News -- New York Times 4/15/09

San Diego School Board Swears Off Any Teacher Layoffs -- San Diego Unified will not warn a single teacher of a possible layoff this year, a move made Tuesday night that was praised by workers but set off alarm bells among critics. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 4/15/09

Dropouts whole city's problem
Stockton Record - ‎9 hours ago‎
For all the complaints about the cost of education in California - and our per pupil spending is 47th in the nation - those in direct contact with students ...

State News: 4/15/09

Walters: Tax policy reflects state's wacky politics -- California's economy is mired in a deep recession, tax revenues are faltering, the state budget is in perpetual deficit and today is the deadline for filing income tax returns - all good reasons to ponder whether our taxation system is faulty and needs repair. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/15/09

CFT In the news: 4/11-12/2009

SEIU, teachers group join against Prop. 1A
Sacramento Bee - 5 hr, 28 mins ago - The Olympian - the Miami Herald
political appointees, with no checks and balances,' Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said in a statement. State leaders included

Critical decisions face voters on May 19 ballot
Gustine Press-Standard - ‎Apr 12, 2009‎
AFSCME, the California Nurses Associationn and California Federation of Teachers oppose 1A because of the spending caps. It appears that the California ...

Schwarzenegger vows to campaign for ballot props
San Francisco Chronicle - ‎20 hours ago‎
On Monday, the California Faculty Association, California Federation of Teachers and SEIU California State Council filed paperwork with the state to form a ...

Powerful state employees union opposes Proposition 1A
Los Angeles Times - ‎20 hours ago‎
... the SEIU California State Council, groups participating in the coalition include the California Faculty Assn. and the California Federation of Teachers. ...

Critical decisions face voters on May 19 ballot
Gustine Press-Standard - ‎Apr 12, 2009‎
AFSCME, the California Nurses Associationn and California Federation of Teachers oppose 1A because of the spending caps. It appears that the California ...

Education news: April 11-14

Sac Bee Capitol Alert: 4/14/09
SUPERINTENDENT 2010: There's a new entrant in the race for superintendent of public instruction in 2010. (That's when the incumbent, Jack O'Connell, terms out.)

On Monday, Larry Aceves, a former school administrator in districts from San Diego to San Jose, tossed his hat into the ring.

Aceves, the former president of the Association of California School Administrators, announced the endorsement of ... the Association of California School Administrators' executive director, Bob Wells.

Aceves, a Democrat, joins two other Democrats in the race, Assemblyman Tom Torlakson and Sen. Gloria Romero.

Officially, the state's schools chief is a nonpartisan post.
_____

New Report Underscores Education Reform Needs - California Progress Report

L.A. Unified to rescind layoff notices to about 2,000 teachers -- Supt. Ramon C. Cortines hopes the move, which affects permanent elementary staffers, will allow schools to build on last year's improvement on test scores. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/14/09

4/13/09

Irvine Unified releases names of temps losing jobs. These 164 temporary teachers were told in March they may not be rehired because ongoing budget cuts. ...

Capistrano district approves $25.5 million in cuts | district, program, class, plan, ... primary grades next fall and increase class sizes across all other grades. ... "This is not going to be the last round of cuts we will experience. ...

Cupertino Union, Moreland school districts seek taxes to boost budgets - Apr 13, 2009
For school districts, parcel taxes offer the advantage of being a stable, reliable source of funding, not subject to property tax values or state budget ...
San Jose Mercury News -

After hot debate, Sacramento board set to decide school closures
Sacramento Bee - ‎Apr 13, 2009‎
By Diana Lambert The Sacramento City Unified School District board is scheduled to decide this week on whether to close four elementary schools and a high ...

Layoffs raise concerns at Sherman Indian High School
Press-Enterprise - ‎Apr 12, 2009‎
But the strength of that education could be in jeopardy, with the layoffs of 34 teachers, dorm staffers and other employees this school year because of a ...

San Jose State University is cracking down on "super seniors, urging them to graduate and make room for others -- Calling all longtime San Jose State University seniors: Your diploma is waiting. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/13/09

Labor organizes against budget ballot measure -- A powerful California public employee union formed a campaign committee Monday with two other labor groups to oppose Proposition 1A, a May 19 ballot measure that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders have said will solve future budget problems. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/13/09

State News: April 11-14

Skelton: Sharing the state's fiscal pain -- Steinberg is learning that every precious public dollar has too many jobs to do. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/13/09

Teachers union adds $2.2 milllion more to ballot war chest -- The California Teachers Association has deposited another $2.2 million into the campaign to pass Propositions 1A and 1B, bringing the group's total spending to nearly $5 million. Shane Goldmacher SacBee Capitol Alert -- 4/10/09

More than a quarter of 7th graders drop out -- More than a quarter of California youngsters attending seventh grade classes in 2001-02 failed to graduate from high school in 2007, and in one major community dropouts outnumbered graduates, according to a new statistical study by the California Dropout Research Project, based at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 4/10/09

Dropouts could cost Fresno $555 million -- School dropouts two years ago could cost Fresno nearly $555 million in economic losses over their lifetimes -- from higher unemployment to crime, according to a report released Thursday. Tracy Correa in the Fresno Bee -- 4/10/09

Governor seeking $5 billion for schools -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked the federal government for $5 billion to keep California schools from laying off teachers, preserve programs and help students enter college. Nguyen Huy Vu in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 4/10/09

This is What Education Has Come To: Pay Cuts or Layoffs - California Progress Report

State News: 4/10/09 - none today

CFT in the news: 4/9/09

May 19 ballot measures would shift funds to general fund
Mount Shasta Herald - ‎19 hours ago‎
The measure is opposed by the League of Women Voters, California Federation of Teachers, California WIC Association, and the Dental Health Foundation, ...

Education news: 4/9/09

UC's Yudof warns pay cuts possible for workers -- The University of California's huge workforce could face salary cuts and furloughs if the state's economy continues its downward spiral, UC President Mark Yudof has told his staff. Jim Doyle in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/9/09

Larger classes, program cuts on the way as Livermore schools trim ...
Contra Costa Times - ‎4 hours ago‎
By Jeanine Benca LIVERMORE - Students in the Livermore school district will return this fall to bigger class sizes, fewer special education classroom aides ...

Schools chief threatens lawsuit should ballot initiatives fail
Record-Searchlight - ‎10 hours ago‎
California earlier this month received $1.2 billion from the federal government for special education programs and schools with high poverty rates. ...

Recession Hits California's Schools
KPBS - ‎1 hour ago‎
California's pre-school programs got a C-minus grade from a national education group. It's likely the recession will hit middle and low-income students ...

Teacher layoffs affect the future
The Santa Clara - ‎4 hours ago‎
As the future of California's teachers hangs in the balance, we must ask ourselves if this is the future that we envision for our society. ...

Cal students demand increase in minority admission
San Jose Mercury News - ‎14 hours ago‎
Cruz also pointed out that the California Department of Education has reported that Latino students will make up the majority of kindergarten through 12th ...

Our View: No testing for second-graders
Pasadena Star News - 6 hr, 47 mins ago
Bay Democrat, proposes in her Senate Bill 800 to eliminate STAR testing of California second-graders. 'We need to let teachers teach,' Hancock says in a release.

State News: 4/9/09 - none

Gov. Schwarzenegger offers assurances for federal education funds -- Stimulus money earmarked for California school districts won't be reallocated to balance the state's budget, according to a letter to the state's congressional delegation. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/8/09

UC admissions more competitive for coming year -- High school seniors who got acceptance letters from the University of California this year have plenty to be proud of: It was one of the toughest years to get in to the state's elite public colleges. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee Jim Doyle in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/8/09

High school occupational programs threatened -- School districts in Sonoma County prepare to slash career and technical classes, from woodshop to culinary arts, in response to a 20 percent reduction in state occupational program funding. PAUL PAYNE in the Santa Rosa Press -- 4/8/09

Education programs on the chopping block -- For decades, programs like regional occupational centers, high school counseling, or gifted and talented education got dedicated education funds. So-called "categorical" programs made sure there were services to properly educate California's diverse student body, from teaching migrant students to training principals on how to use technology. Dana Hull in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/8/09

Proposition would ensure school funding
San Mateo Daily Journal - ‎8 hours ago‎
1B sets up a repayment plan to ensure schools and community colleges are paid back as economic conditions improve. If we don’t pass 1B, California will be ...

Community College To Four-Year School Transfer Can Save Money
Wall Street Journal - ‎4 hours ago‎
In California, in-state tuition at Santa Monica College for the most-recent academic year was around $600 for full-time students, compared to $7551 at the ...

State News: 4/8/09

April 8, 2009
AM Alert: Budget ballot battle begins

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, there's another special election coming up on May 19th?" a woman asks in a new radio campaign ad.

Yes, there are just under six weeks until the May 19 special election. And starting this week, the campaign for the budget package has begun on the airwaves. (At least the radio airwaves, which are significantly cheaper than airing TV spots.)
Listen to all the radio ads here.

CFT/Locals, in the news: 4/7/09

Cabrillo reduces workforce in ongoing budget cuts
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Apr 07 2009
said Paul Harvell, an economics instructor and president of the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers. Inclusion of the...

Education news: 4/7/09

Teachers await news on possible layoffs
89.3 KPCC - 5 hr, 22 mins ago
California public school teachers are waiting to find out within a month or so whether the preliminary layoff notices they received will become permanent. KPCC's

Who's giving up?
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - 7 hr, 7 mins ago
where help is needed the most would be the educational departments. The state of California is firing hundreds of teachers and school faculty members due to budget

200 teacher jobs saved
San Bernardino County Sun - 7 hr, 40 mins ago
of Education Arne Duncan for help with this matter. 'I believe it was his assistance that finally helped convince the (state Department of Education) to allow this

School board rescinds 70 pink slips
Times Press Recorder - ‎2 hours ago‎
... an English teacher at Nipomo High School. positions and issued 229 preliminary pink slips in compliance with a California law that mandates that schools ...

TEMECULA: School district trustees to discuss classified layoffs
North County Times - Californian - ‎9 hours ago‎
Susan Thornton, president of the Temecula chapter of the California School Employees Association, which represents nonteaching employees, said many of her ...

UC Berkeley professor takes on school spending
Los Angeles Times - ‎14 hours ago‎
But many of the resources in schools turn out to be compound resources. We spent a lot of money in California on class-size reduction, and the evaluation ...

O.C. teacher salaries: The buying power of 2007-08 salaries
Orange County Register - 15 hr, 32 mins ago
Orange County teachers, were they to be judged in raw salary dollars against all the states in the nation, would rank No. 1 - a good $10,000 ahead of California,

Hundreds attend Salinas teacher job fair
The Salinas Californian - ‎5 hours ago‎
"Some [districts] only have recruiting pools," said Sophia Vicuña, a teacher-recruitment liaison for California State University, Monterey Bay. ...

State News: 4/7/09

Truth isn't always the whole truth in May 19 ballot battle -- When Budget Reform Now, the umbrella group backing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election ballot package, puts out one of their "In Case You Missed It" e-mails, readers still could find themselves missing it -- the entire story, that is. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/7/09

Reverse Historic Trends in California by Taxing the Rich California Progress Report

Education news: 4/4-6/09

4/6/09

South Bay educator ushers community colleges onto national stage -- The nomination of a Bay Area educator to a national role has community college supporters hopeful it will mean increased attention to the two-year school system. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times --

Unusual pairings in Prop. 1A battle
San Francisco Chronicle - ‎9 hours ago‎
On one side are Schwarzenegger, the California Teachers Association and much of the Legislature's leadership, who argue that the measure is the only way to ...

4/5

Andy Shapiro, It Takes a Village: School crisis hitting kids hard - Santa Cruz Sentinel
"Pink Friday," March 13, was a sad day, as approximately 26,500 teachers and counselors across California received pink slips on or before that date. It is heartbreaking and devastating to see so many tremendously talented teachers, counselors and other staff members losing their jobs during this budget crisis.

California Receives Grant For Teacher Data System
Sunday, 05 April 2009
Sacramento, California - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the California Department of Education was awarded a $6 million Statewide Longitudinal Data System Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Institution of Education Sciences.

Keep funding for education
Santa Maria Times - Santa Maria,CA,USA

California lottery lacks the bells and whistles of other states
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
California's original 1984 lottery initiative was marketed to voters as a boon to public schools. But it has proven more sales pitch than economic windfall; ...

College tuition hikes lower than expected -- Private schools in California and around the nation are announcing relatively modest tuition increases, averaging about 4%, for the 2009-10 school year. About a dozen colleges have announced freezes. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/5/09

4/3/09 Late News:

Should Orange County teachers take a pay cut?
OCRegister - Santa Ana,CA,USA
Californiachers are routinely held up as being the best paid in the nation; consequently, critics say, teachers are well positioned to take a financial ...

Sacramento BeeTeachers union drops another $1 million toward ballot measures
Sacramento Bee - CA, USA
The California Teachers Association has donated another $1 million to pass the budget package on the May 19 special election. Roughly two-thirds of the ...
See all stories on this topic

Barbara Lee Announces Over $34 Million for Schools in California´s Ninth District
California Political Desk April 03, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced today that over $34 Million in emergency education funding has been released for schools in the Ninth Congressional District of California to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities. Specifically, California´s Ninth District schools will receive $17,716,994 Million in Title I funds and $17,045,000 Million in IDEA funds immediately.

Stimulus no cure-all for schools
Money on way only temporary, limiting options
By Roger Phillips Stockton Record
April 03, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - Ever since the federal government passed its $787 billion financial stimulus package in February, officials at public school districts have sought to identify allowable uses for the money, much of which is targeted for special-education students and children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

State News: 4/4-6/09

Skelton: Voters' choice: bad policy or deeper debt -- Californians will face a dreadful choice next month. They can vote for horrible public policy. Or they can plunge the state deeper into the deficit hole. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/6/09

State hires L.A. controller to oversee stimulus -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired the Los Angeles city controller to be the state's watchdog of federal economic stimulus dollars. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/6/09

4/5

Dem icon Burton shoo-in for state party leader -- Even as the Democratic Party rides an Obama-fueled wave of youth, enthusiasm and "change," the Democrats of California look to be bucking the trend: They're preparing to elect former state Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, 77, the iconic, battle-scarred veteran of state politics, as their party leader. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/5/09

Education news: 4/3/09

Will Federal Aid Prevent Teacher Firings?
KCRA.com - 7 hr, 24 mins ago
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California education officials said federal aid may not be enough to prevent widespread teacher firings. The Legislature's budget analyst is

Livermore district mulls deep cuts
San Jose Mercury News - ‎20 hours ago‎
... plan the governor signed in February to close a $42 billion state deficit, the initiatives are heavily backed by the California Teachers Association. ...

Battling budget woes
Rowland Unified faces hard decisions
By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/02/2009 12:16:23 PM PDT

ABC30.com
Gloomy Job Hunt for Future Teachers - Fresno
ABC30.com - ‎16 hours ago‎
By Andres Araiza California News (KFSN) -- Future teachers crowed into Downtown Fresno to begin a very gloomy job hunt. Your future California teachers ...

State laws may help schools deal with budget cuts
Camarillo Acorn - ‎18 hours ago‎
It's no secret that budget cuts have officials at Pleasant Valley and Oxnard Union High School districts scrambling to be frugal and save more, ...

160+ layoffs proposed for Elk Grove school district
Elk Grove Citizen - ‎10 hours ago‎
By Cameron Macdonald - Citizen Staff Writer The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) staff recommends $11.5 million in budget cuts and more than 160 ...

Vote could cut First 5 funds
Stockton Record - ‎10 hours ago‎
At a protest rally last month, county Superintendent of Schools Rick Wentworth was critical of a California budget that has led local districts to issue ...

State News: 4/3/09

California lawmakers look past the fiscal crisis -- Legislators begin thinking about ways to solidify the state's fragile water supply, improve foster care and achieve progress on clean energy, as well as addressing prison costs, education and jobs. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/3/09
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legis3-2009apr03,0,6789187.story?track=rss

CFT/AFT in the news....4/2/09

Media Release:
PACE and Full Circle Fund Host Teacher Pay Conferences
Emediawire (press release) - ‎9 hours ago‎
"California is rightly known as a center of innovation in many fields," said Jeff Camp, who heads up the Education Circle at Full Circle Fund, ...

Education Week News (subscription) - Bethesda,MD,USA
The president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, said she hoped the reporting would encourage stakeholders to ...

Education news: 4/2/09

State Gets Over One Billion in Educational Money from the USDE - California Progress Report

Federal funds may not stave off classroom cuts, California educators say -- Superintendents worry that state leaders could tap into federal stimulus money targeted for schools to make up budget shortfalls. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/2/09

Editorial: Feds may give California a chance to fix K-12 standards
San Jose Mercury News - ‎14 hours ago‎
California and other states facing huge cutbacks in K-12 schools are anxiously eyeing their share of $53 billion for education that President Barack Obama ...
USA Today

Board approves furlough days for teachers to save jobs
San Diego Union Tribune - ‎8 hours ago‎
In accepting the furloughs, the Alpine teachers union went against the advice of its parent union, the California Teachers Association. ...

State News: 4/2/09 - none today

Education news:  4/1/09

L.A. Unified cuts $140.6 million from budget -- The Board of Education postponed a decision on cuts for next year's budget, which could cost thousands of jobs. They'll revisit the issue April 14. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/1/09

High school district layoffs on agenda Mercury-Register - Oroville,CA,USA

Federal relief is still uncertain for California schools
OCRegister - ‎8 hours ago‎
By CAROL VERAVANICH Q. Why is the Register saying schools might not receive the money from the federal stimulus? AIG is getting billions after billions and ...

Congressional officials try to reassure districts they will get ...
San Jose Mercury News - ‎8 hours ago‎
Allison Niday, a Scotts Valley school board member who represents Santa Cruz and San Benito counties as a delegate to the California School Board ...

Districts send more pink slips than OK'd
The Desert Sun - ‎8 hours ago‎
... than was necessary,” Tomás Martínez, a California Teachers Association representative for local teachers unions, said about Coachella Valley Unified. ...

Community support spares Richmond after-school programs -- After-school programs that were forced to close or reduce services at three Richmond elementaries in early March are serving hundreds of students once again thanks to donations from businesses and a nonprofit organization. Kimberly S. Wetzel in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/1/09

Safeguarding San Francisco Schools When Money is Short The Women's International Perspective

Congressman Seeks Probe Into School 'Quiet Rooms'
CBS 5 - ‎13 hours ago‎
None of the California schools involved in the incidents we reported were willing to go on camera. State education officials also turned down CBS 5 ...

Report: Two Orange County districts among most segregated in U.S. suburbs -- Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified and Garden Grove Unified school districts made the lists of the top 25 suburban schools in the nation to have the highest segregation. CINDY CARCAMO and FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 4/1/09

Stanford accepts only 7.6 percent of would-be freshmen -- Only one out of every 13 Stanford University aspirants got a good news e-mail Tuesday afternoon. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/1/09

Recession Has Silver Lining for Class of '09 -- After years of increasing selectivity driven by bumper crops of strong applicants, many private college officials are concerned that more students will turn to public universities, which are less expensive. Susan Kinzie in the Washington Post -- 4/1/09

State News: 4/1/09

California lawmakers weigh options for a potential fiscal 'doomsday'
Los Angeles Times - ‎12 hours ago‎
Likely targets for deeper budget cuts include higher education, public schools, transportation, the prisons and healthcare, Capitol insiders say. ...

Perata will run for Oakland mayor -- The 10-year state senator had hinted for months he was considering a run but said he finalized his decision after attending the funeral service for four Oakland police officers Friday. Kelly Rayburn in the Oakland Tribune -- 4/1/09

GOP throwdown: Maldonado v. Poizer, Round II -- It's on -- and it's going to get even rougher, we predict -- between two high profile state Republicans who have gotten into a very public battle over the state budget and budget reform. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog John Myers Capitol Notes weblog Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert -- 4/1/09

Union sues former executive for $1.1 million -- SEIU chapter charges that Tyrone Freeman misappropriated dues to enrich himself and his relatives. Paul Pringle in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/1/09

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